Note: Friend of Blogness Iain Muir is attending multiple shows — his first ever — during Springsteen’s Australian tour, and has offered to share his impressions here. Below, the report from Melbourne, night one! (Be sure to check out the setlist and videos too.)

PHOTO: The Age

Sometimes there are times in life, if you’re lucky, you get to experience the greatest moment of your life, and if you’re even luckier, you get to experience that with your idol. On Sunday night, I was lucky enough to have such an experience.

When Bruce Springsteen got on stage, he was met with a huge roar for his opening night in Melbourne. Asking “Melbourne, are you ready?” He immediately burst into a shit-hot “Out In The Street,” the pit immediately went berserk, and fist pumping was rife. The elation that everybody was sharing in the room was magical: Being a first timer, I couldn’t believe that the day I had waited 10 years for was finally happening. I was in the same room as Bruce Springsteen and I was only metres away from him. From Out In The Street, he dug deep and surprised us with The Promised Land, as soon as that harmonica intro rung through everyone’s ears is in the pit, we went into raptures.

I was standing beside a guy whose favourite song was Promised Land. He was loving life. The “Blow away” bit during “Promised Land” is absolutely mental; shouting that out with other fans is something you can’t describe.

Then was a premiere for the tour: “Something In The Night.” This is when the tears started to flow. As soon as he pointed at Roy, and Roy began playing, I was moved like I have never been moved in a concert before. I could not believe I was hearing this live. It was haunting. The rumble of Max’s drums during the intro, Bruce’s wail … just absolutely incredible. An absolutely magical moment in my concert going life. I would say it is up there with the best moments I have had at a concert.

The one-two punch of “Wrecking Ball” and “Death To My Hometown” was great — I loved when he said “COME ON MELBOURNE, LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICES CALL!” Nothing special, but a great moment to me. “Death To My Hometown” is brutal and to see the band as a whole throw the kitchen sink at you with a massive wall of sound is just brilliant.

Then came the fun, “Hungry Heart.” He collected a massive sign from a fan with a heart on it, and I am talking massive — there were things written inside it. He did his usual crowd surf thing, then launched into “Spirit.” I love the intro during that, “CAN YA FEEL THE SPIRIT?” is just a fucking epic question and the pit again went mental. He and the band launched into it and the time was flying by.

“High Hopes” followed and I gotta say, it is excellent live. Everett and Bruce really own the stage and with its fast pace, it really draws you in. Next was “The River” — I was standing next to the lady who had the sign, and she actually wanted “Meeting Across The River,” but the fans won with “The River.” It was an amazing rendition. His falsetto is just magic. Absolutely beautiful to witness.

Next up was another one-two heavy hitting punch of “Seeds” and “Johnny 99.” They aren’t really songs that get played often, so I was a little more subdued during this. But Nils’ guitar is just electric. Then, they brought out a huge big gun after this double shot: Prove It ’78.

I was literally one in front of the guy in the line who had the sign, very nice man who had also seen Bruce in Florence with his 9-year-old son. A 19-year-old girl broke down beside me when he played it. Absolutely brilliant. He shreds the shit out of his guitar during that intro and the raw sound of it ringing through your ears is just electric. Then the band comes in and again, everyone just can’t contain themselves. Nils’ solo was a joy to behold, especially when he did his spins. An amazing song to say I have seen done right before my eyes.

I am no fan of the Sessions stuff, but “Pay Me My Money Down” is fun. Americans have trouble saying arse, and Bruce explained this, but he came off sounding British. But it was an amazing song that got everyone up in 90 seconds, like Bruce said it would. Lots of fun and wouldn’t be disappointed to hear it again. “Darlington County” followed and that again was a lot of fun with Bruce venturing into the crowd. It was funny seeing Nils run to make it in time to sing the lines he does with Bruce midway through.

“Shackled and Drawn” and” Sunny Day” were next in line and both were fun. It’s much better experiencing “Sunny Day” live rather than just seeing it appear on a setlist show after show. I could grow tired of it hearing it multiple times, but it does get the crowd involved and when you see the little kid he gets up on stage, you just melt.

“The Rising” and “Badlands” were two highlights of the night for me. The lighting during the intro of “The Rising” is just incredible. Got a great shot during that. Badlands was just insane. The fist pumping was just ridiculous and doing the “woah oh oh oh” was great to share with other fans. I was standing with two 19-year-olds (one of whom was the girl on stage in Sydney), who were with their fathers, and eventhe fathers started jumping up and down. It was just great to see — we all sung together, while fist pumping and jumping, and it was just an incredible feeling knowing that these people are feeling the exact same way you are.

“Joad” followed and just wow, again not a favourite of mine, but Morello is absolutely beastly during this. The conviction he puts into it not only singing, but also playing is incredible to witness. Just brilliant.

LOHAD was the “epic” of the night and I enjoyed it. Then he ripped out BIT USA and the crowd really got up and just went bananas. Everyone around me in the pit was fist pumping like it was 1985 and Bruce’s vocals were ruthless. Straight into “Born To Run” and the house lights came on, and nobody sat down for the rest of night. As epic as I thought it would be.

The final double shot of DITD and “10th Avenue” was great. Dancing is heaps of fun. 10th Avenue is great and Bruce getting up on the piano during the “woah oh oh oh oh oh” bit is just fantastic.

I was spent by the encore. My shoulder was destroyed, it hurt to fist pump and it hurt to speak. I don’t know how Bruce does it.

The greatest night of my life? You bet.

Iain Muir

Note: Friend of Blogness Iain Muir is attending multiple shows — his first ever — during Springsteen’s Australian tour, and has offered to share his impressions here. Below, the report from Melbourne, night one! (Be sure to check out the setlist and videos too.)

PHOTO: The Age

Sometimes there are times in life, if you’re lucky, you get to experience the greatest moment of your life, and if you’re even luckier, you get to experience that with your idol. On Sunday night, I was lucky enough to have such an experience.

When Bruce Springsteen got on stage, he was met with a huge roar for his opening night in Melbourne. Asking “Melbourne, are you ready?” He immediately burst into a shit-hot “Out In The Street,” the pit immediately went berserk, and fist pumping was rife. The elation that everybody was sharing in the room was magical: Being a first timer, I couldn’t believe that the day I had waited 10 years for was finally happening. I was in the same room as Bruce Springsteen and I was only metres away from him. From Out In The Street, he dug deep and surprised us with The Promised Land, as soon as that harmonica intro rung through everyone’s ears is in the pit, we went into raptures.

I was standing beside a guy whose favourite song was Promised Land. He was loving life. The “Blow away” bit during “Promised Land” is absolutely mental; shouting that out with other fans is something you can’t describe.

Then was a premiere for the tour: “Something In The Night.” This is when the tears started to flow. As soon as he pointed at Roy, and Roy began playing, I was moved like I have never been moved in a concert before. I could not believe I was hearing this live. It was haunting. The rumble of Max’s drums during the intro, Bruce’s wail … just absolutely incredible. An absolutely magical moment in my concert going life. I would say it is up there with the best moments I have had at a concert.

The one-two punch of “Wrecking Ball” and “Death To My Hometown” was great — I loved when he said “COME ON MELBOURNE, LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICES CALL!” Nothing special, but a great moment to me. “Death To My Hometown” is brutal and to see the band as a whole throw the kitchen sink at you with a massive wall of sound is just brilliant.

Then came the fun, “Hungry Heart.” He collected a massive sign from a fan with a heart on it, and I am talking massive — there were things written inside it. He did his usual crowd surf thing, then launched into “Spirit.” I love the intro during that, “CAN YA FEEL THE SPIRIT?” is just a fucking epic question and the pit again went mental. He and the band launched into it and the time was flying by.

“High Hopes” followed and I gotta say, it is excellent live. Everett and Bruce really own the stage and with its fast pace, it really draws you in. Next was “The River” — I was standing next to the lady who had the sign, and she actually wanted “Meeting Across The River,” but the fans won with “The River.” It was an amazing rendition. His falsetto is just magic. Absolutely beautiful to witness.

Next up was another one-two heavy hitting punch of “Seeds” and “Johnny 99.” They aren’t really songs that get played often, so I was a little more subdued during this. But Nils’ guitar is just electric. Then, they brought out a huge big gun after this double shot: Prove It ’78.

I was literally one in front of the guy in the line who had the sign, very nice man who had also seen Bruce in Florence with his 9-year-old son. A 19-year-old girl broke down beside me when he played it. Absolutely brilliant. He shreds the shit out of his guitar during that intro and the raw sound of it ringing through your ears is just electric. Then the band comes in and again, everyone just can’t contain themselves. Nils’ solo was a joy to behold, especially when he did his spins. An amazing song to say I have seen done right before my eyes.

I am no fan of the Sessions stuff, but “Pay Me My Money Down” is fun. Americans have trouble saying arse, and Bruce explained this, but he came off sounding British. But it was an amazing song that got everyone up in 90 seconds, like Bruce said it would. Lots of fun and wouldn’t be disappointed to hear it again. “Darlington County” followed and that again was a lot of fun with Bruce venturing into the crowd. It was funny seeing Nils run to make it in time to sing the lines he does with Bruce midway through.

“Shackled and Drawn” and” Sunny Day” were next in line and both were fun. It’s much better experiencing “Sunny Day” live rather than just seeing it appear on a setlist show after show. I could grow tired of it hearing it multiple times, but it does get the crowd involved and when you see the little kid he gets up on stage, you just melt.

“The Rising” and “Badlands” were two highlights of the night for me. The lighting during the intro of “The Rising” is just incredible. Got a great shot during that. Badlands was just insane. The fist pumping was just ridiculous and doing the “woah oh oh oh” was great to share with other fans. I was standing with two 19-year-olds (one of whom was the girl on stage in Sydney), who were with their fathers, and eventhe fathers started jumping up and down. It was just great to see — we all sung together, while fist pumping and jumping, and it was just an incredible feeling knowing that these people are feeling the exact same way you are.

“Joad” followed and just wow, again not a favourite of mine, but Morello is absolutely beastly during this. The conviction he puts into it not only singing, but also playing is incredible to witness. Just brilliant.

LOHAD was the “epic” of the night and I enjoyed it. Then he ripped out BIT USA and the crowd really got up and just went bananas. Everyone around me in the pit was fist pumping like it was 1985 and Bruce’s vocals were ruthless. Straight into “Born To Run” and the house lights came on, and nobody sat down for the rest of night. As epic as I thought it would be.

The final double shot of DITD and “10th Avenue” was great. Dancing is heaps of fun. 10th Avenue is great and Bruce getting up on the piano during the “woah oh oh oh oh oh” bit is just fantastic.

I was spent by the encore. My shoulder was destroyed, it hurt to fist pump and it hurt to speak. I don’t know how Bruce does it.